Category Archives: development

WhereIsMyTransport is a rapidly growing, Cape Town-based technology start up that is redefining public transport in emerging cities mainly through Africa. They provide an integrated public transport platform that enables cities, operators, and developers to optimize service and bring a scalable, sustainable solution to public transport, specifically in emerging markets with a high degree of informal transport.

WhereIsMyTransport’s 13 local data collectors spent three weeks recording taxi journeys in Cape Town, mapping 657 unique routes, covering 8 870 km’s, and capturing 1 482 of the most commonly used stops, with an average journey cost of R10.86 ($0.80).

These data points have been added to the WhereIsMyTransport platform alongside data for the city’s formal transport network to provide a complete picture of all of the transport options available to residents of the city.

Devin De Vries, co-founder of WhereIsMyTransport, comments: “Fully mapping Cape Town is a phenomenal achievement for our team. We’ve demonstrated that complex transport systems can be mapped at a much lower cost than many cities believe. With our efficient technology and methodology, even large cities don’t need to spend millions to map their networks.

“We have already mapped two more cities and will be releasing data for South Africa’s major metros this year. And that’s just the beginning: we’re excited by the potential for cities across Africa.”

Cape Town will be followed by East London and Gaborone in March 2017. WhereIsMyTransport will continue collecting taxi network data in South Africa’s major cities including Port Elizabeth, Durban, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Bloemfontein, all due to be complete by mid-2017.

The company is in discussion with cities and local partners with the intention of fully mapping 20 African cities by the end of 2018. It already holds data on informally-run networks in Accra and Nairobi.

While the company currently works with its own team to collect data, it has also created a toolkit to enable any individual, organisation, or city to map their transport network. The toolkit includes a purpose-built app, methodology and planning techniques for tackling even the most sprawling cities, and support from the WhereIsMyTransport team to make data available through the platform.

The WhereIsMyTransport platform allows developers, transport operators and government officials to build solutions like journey planners, fare estimators, communications tools and connected digital signage, improving access to public transport information for citizens in emerging cities, as well as providing insight and analytics to aid city planning.

Graeme Leighton, data collection co-ordinator for WhereIsMyTransport, says: “We believe that the information challenge in South African cities undermines our infrastructure. We want to make the systems that exist more accessible for everyone. In Cape Town, every assumption we had about the network was challenged. We discovered dozens of previously unknown routes, and found many documented routes no longer operated.

“We invite others to put their own cities on the map and make their systems more accessible,” he adds “Our tools are available to anyone interested in contributing to our platform, the world’s first open platform for public transport data in emerging cities.”

In December, the Silicon Valley Business Journal made a remarkable statement regarding four of their first five winners of the US’s high-tech chief executive officer awards, which feature competition from the likes of Google’s Larry Page. It said: “Here’s something interesting about our executive of the year awards, something that hadn’t occurred to us at the time that these four executives were selected – they are all originally from South Africa.”

Like this:

There is no disagreement that South Africa is a very sick nation, with the new elite being accused of “spitting in the faces of the poor”. A well written article and good read is: SA a very sick society in massive denial.

I follow Chris Greenland (alias ProJusticio ), an ex constitution court judge from Zimbabwe. He also manages the SA Liberation Initiative group on Facebook for practical proposals for a manifesto of change, the kind of change that will help people have work, housing and dignity.

This article has been selected as an Editor’s Choice report from News2.co.za. Articles are selected based on quality of writing, audience response, newsworthiness and originality, and is at the discretion of the MyNews24 editors.

This Article, is definately worth a reblog for conscious South African citizens who are willing to make the difference in our country.

In the spirit of what I am trying to achieve on the CyberAfrica blog, I am definately and humbled not to be in a vacuum, and must admiraly comment on how the local web in SA has gone viral in mass, on trying to counteract Crime and Corruption in South Africa.

There are many groups tirelessly and persistant in trying to stamp out the huge exponential rise in crime and corruption in our vulnerable country. From Facebook, Twitter, Websites, RSS Feeds, You Tube and many blogs, there has been a counteractive, counter resistance group, rise up from the people against all odds, who do want to make a real difference. A local blogger I can comment on is Jeremy Farrell.

It’s very encouraging to say the least, that we have reached a stage where crime and corruption are being reported and broadcasted live, where all have a say, and it’s comes with a warm heart to know, that most South African citizens are voicing their dismay and discontent about the unruly, including certain members and people holding onto power in our government.

Although the Clem Sunters and First Rand Founder Paul Harris’s (see Don’t Stress about SA) , paint a relatively positive future for our Economy, what is the point of having an economy when charlatan’s are eating away the very base and foundation of our community fiscal strongholds? Not being sinical but, how does it help comment on positive change in our country, when the moral fiber of our supposed leadership is being devoured and eaten away by greed, nepotism, undue enrichment,self entitlement and huge moral decay.

I truly believe that a “litmus test” to show how one’s government is taking a moral stand and accountability for it’s people, is measured by how it’s own people. less empowered ,community leaders and people are having to tackle more community responsibilities, and provision them by themselves,and need to be more aware and engaged. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If the government is losing it’s grip on providing a safe haven for it’s people, the people will create one by themselves. This has been seen time and time again in 3rd World countries, but here comes the advent of easily, fast and available technology, individuals are now empowered to make a difference, good or bad…”The Good Digital Divide” is happening and let’s pray “the good” prevails and grows from strength to strength.

A had a few exciting developments started in 2007, with the warfare and sabotage on corruption and these forces becoming more apparent on our radar screens, the Net tools (weapons and ammunition) have exponentionally evolved in SA. One of the catalysts, I need to mention is from Graham Power‘s planting a seed by sharing his personal and spiritual vindication, with http://www.unashamedlyethical.com. This organisation creating a business leaders pledge and awareness campaign, promoting a Christian ethos against unethical business practice asking owners and customers to join the rise up against this Samson called corruption.

The SARS has been on the ball a web link for anybody to report any suspicious business or fraudulent activity on www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=218. Then followed by a direct live community based interactive reporting portal which was originally (and ironically) for traffic fine camera warnings, to prevent the public from being speed trapped or held up at a police road block. It has now evolved into a full blown community driven crime and corruption broadcast, live from all walks (literally from mobile phones) of life in SA including police and paramedics on the scene of each tragedy. “A community driven policing force”, if one would call it. See www.PublicServant.co.za and http://www.facebook.com/TrafficWC. It’s interesting, good always seems to rise above bad in the collective community sense.

Missing Children SA, started the good fight against human trafficking, to provide a structure of re-active support to the family, authorities and other NGO’s when a person goes missing; To provide pro-active national awareness to children and their families, media, authorities, communities and schools. – Missing Children SA is fulfilling a huge void, and has a highly important and powerful role in our society .

There are many to mention and too many to thank and applaud for this boom of social entrepeneurship, I have not even included The New Era Economic Rights Alliance which is fighting the good battle for everyone , seeking transparency in the banking and corporate sector in SA. Protecting you & I against unscrupulous financial corporates and conglomerates, who have, and are colluding and taking advantage of the ordinary man in the street, billing them unecessary, taking away their homes and life savings, in the name of greed and profit, all this by mere small written contract clauses,which surpass our basic constitutional rights. Have you known about a bank who will reach out a hand to us, during financial lows?…No, not I, just even to protect our family and provide a sheltered home, that is not written in the contract, sorry Sir, pay up or you and your family is on the street!

Then comes, Corruption Watch (CW) which was invited to make a presentation at the Institute for Security Studies’ international conference on crime and criminal justice on Friday, 26/10/2012

Within three days of Corruption Watch’s launch on 26 January 2012, more than 70 reports relating to metro cop bribery, allegations of nepotism and driving-licence corruption had been received from across South Africa, the presentation reads.

A total of 945 reports of corruption have been lodged with the organisation between 1 January* and 30 September this year, according to the presentation titled Citizens reporting corruption in South Africa: reports received by Corruption Watch.

http://twitter.com/Corruption_SA is one of the many interactive social media platforms, which gives the public a very powerful voice, it empowers our communities, gives us all a vote of confidence,a huge leap into the Digital Age, but most of all, proving that most out there have an inclination towards contributing towards social good, showing a geniune care towards our fellow beings, our neighbours, our watchers, our service providers, and of course protecting our family. The arrival of the neighbourhood watch are on Uber Digital scale has arrived! Even as I write this blog, Google has launched a Hurrican Map and reporting site for Hurrican Sandy.

The founder in South Africa of taking the community policing to the Internet is eBlockwatch, which is on URL: http://www.eblockwatch.co.za/. eBlockwatch has been very innovative in combatting crime and protecting our vulnerable citizens in a crime ridden society. From protecting tourists visiting South Africa, to tracking down stolen goods, and of course people, using cloud and mobile software tools, eblockwatch is a network of more than 83 000 South Africans looking out for each other and our tourists. There Facebook link is: http://www.facebook.com/groups/102575386217/

For the hard workers, who want to know that that their sweat & blood went into paying taxes for the right reasons, for the parents who are looking for their lost loved ones,for the community builders, for the police, for the security watchmen, for the paramedics, for the teachers, for our churches, and lastly for our government, society is becoming engaged in mass, engaged to protect and nurture one another . It’s simple, poor governance=corruption=disparity 7 disorder= break down of law and order= rise up of the masses=factions=unrest=protecting ones civil rights=creates solidarity = fighting for cause= protecting your neighbours=public engagement=collaborating=creating awareness = the peoples voice (media) =using the best tools and groups to go viral=using online social networking. And hopefully a democratic driven mediation for better governance.

So, whatever your cause is, online groups, social media can at least empower you or your social cause, to actively partake and polic your local neighbourhood, your community and in the case of South Africa at present, our government!

We hope and pray that the voice of the people, and technology brings a better future and equality for all in SA.

I will end this blog with the quotations on the Justice Project South Africa’s website: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, all that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men and woman to do nothing, what lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.”

As a business development manager, my goal is to keep current with one’s market,setup & manage strategic relationships & alliances with companies.Leveraging each other’s expertise, technologies or intellectual property to expand our capacities for identifying, researching, analyzing and bringing to market new business,services & products.

South Africa is one of the gateways of doing business in Africa, as an extension of my work role, I attempt to promote and contribute to ICT and technology development, which can be sustainable in Africa, by using a networking arena for the promotion of empowering technologies – Energizing Africa is the vision & Breaking the Digital Divide is the way…

The strengths of tapping into a vast network of resourceful people to help catalyse social change and growth in Africa, advocates a network of doing good business with good people as we do good in our world.

an altruistic mind-set & dedication to a project which energizes a strong passion in me. www.sent.org.za (Schools eNetwork Trust) uses the resources of our commercial company to provide schools in the Cape Province with free Wireless Internet. We are going through the process of being registered as a Trust with PBO status, in order to pool in stakeholders for further resources to provide e-Learning, VoIP PBX and further resources for our schools in the future. I am hoping that the 2 years I spent in Nigeria, on a similar project will help in furthering this project.

The pilot project started in September 2011 to provide free Internet access to over 80 schools in the Cape Peninsula. Driven by our director who is a retired school teacher, we have dedicated over R1 million in resources to this project & it is gaining momentum (incl. government educational departments and affiliates interest).

Stake holders at present are: Comtel & their staff, Scoop Distribution (Cape Town). We gratefully accept your assistance, advice & broadcasting the message out there to potential stake holders.SENT brochure is available in MyBox filesharing on this page -> http://za.linkedin.com/in/cyberafrica

Thanks for your interest, and lets hope we can all support and learn from each other, as collaboration is the key to a successful NGO project!

These are all incredible trivia-packed presentations on the state of the world, but also note that the trivia has changed by the time it is presented, due to our rapidly changing world. There are now two versions of “Did You Know 4.0″, released online in 2009 in response to “Shift Happens, Did You Know?”, a presentation developed by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Jeff Brenman in 2007.

Back in 2007 Karl Fisch presented an eight minute PowerPoint presentation for staff development at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado. Fisch used content from David Warlick, Thomas Friedman, Ian Jukes and Ray Kurzweil, tying it together with music from Last of The Mohicans. Scott McLeod adapted the presentation by removing many of the school-specific slides and reformatting it in a number of formats.

This completely new December 2009 version, designed by XPLANE, includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist. The video encourages viewers to visit mediaconvergence.com,economist.com and shifthappens.wikispaces.com. Music is “Home Tonight”, by DoKashiteru.

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

Richard Sanders, President of Sony BMG International, presented this version of Shift Happens on 4 May 2008, to 150 of the company’s top executives gathered in Rome for Sony BMG’s annual Global Management Meeting.

The video was used to illustrate the global demand for change, reinforcing Sony BMG’s mission to improve the music experience for consumers living in “exponential times”. The final sentence drives home the need for music companies to take into account the importance of digital music downloads. Soundtrack is “Right Here Right Now” by Fatboy Slim.

The Newly Revised Edition

Brothers Darren Bachynski and Jared Bachynski have produced their own update on “Did You Know?”, titled “4.0 for 2009 Globalization & Our Changing Planet”.

The key to watching this version is to keep going right to the end. Once you’ve read the final sentence, everything falls into perspective.

Click on the image below to play the video in YouTube (HD)

Talking about trivia… these statistics are from 2009. Imagine what they will be like in 10 years time ?

Builders Warehouse in Somerset West in collaboration with Rape Crisis Helderberg are hosting a fundraiser on Monday the 9th August 2010 at Builders Warehouse!!For every single sale made on the day, R5-00 will be donated to Rape Crisis Helderberg by Builders Warehouse. This is a huge and amazing pledge by a local business,Builders Warehouse to make a difference in the lives of women of the Helderberg Basin! Rape Crisis Helderberg serves the survivors of sexual abuse in the Helderberg. For more information go to http://www.crisiscentre.org.za or phone 021-852 5620 to make a donation!

Deon Friis, a Cape Town based engineer, left London yesterday (on his birthday) on an epic motorcycle journey on a Inspired by Ewan McGregor. A local South African working as an engineer in London for the last 6 months, he is travelling solo across 11 African countries, over 55 days, on a BMW RS 1200 GS motorbike, in aid of the charity Riders for Health. Please support this wonderful cause, to raise funding ‘Riders for Health’ which is a non-governmental organization dedicated to reaching communities in rural Africa with health care on a regular basis by establishing an infrastructure of reliable and sustainable transportation. Riders for Health mobilise health workers from ministries of health and local organizations, enabling them to reach outlying communities with vital and often life-saving health care.

CyberAfrica has been chosen to provide all digital marketing via social media for this epic journey. The founder, Ian Anderson commented:“We are excited to provide live updates, using the best technologies available on the Internet. Social Media is the pre-eminent social media marketing in the world today— and we are leading the way in “social media for social good.”

CyberAfrica coalesces the strengths of traditional and social media to help its clients –- best-of-class brands, socially-conscious companies and leading charitable organizations elevate brand equity, drive revenue, boost donations, build brand evangelism and catalyze social change. We do good business with good people as we do good in our world.

We are not a public relations firm wearing a social media hat. We are a highly-effective, highly-selective social media firm that helps brands get the most out of social media — whatever their business, whatever their goals. We hand-select a few best-of-class clients each year, which enables us to provide unequalled service and unmatched results.

Social media also gives you the opportunity to tell your own story in your own way. You’re not limited to “the story you think you can sell to the reporter.”

Ian Anderson, chatted to Deon before he left London yesterday. Deon has put everything on line; he has resigned from his job in London, all his personal savings are being used for the trans-African trip, and his wife just lost her job in Cape Town. They also have a three year old daughter to support, but his philanthropic motivation for this cause is very important to him. Speaking to his wife Leone in Cape Town this morning, she supports Deon 100% with what he is doing, and being a South Africa male, she says he needs to follow through his adventurous spirit, and she looks forward to a content Deon when he arrives back.

Follow Deon’s journey on his London 2 The Cape site , and please help donate to the wonderful cause. All donations can be made through a Paypal account for Riders for Health, and we are in the process of opening a South African bank account and credit card donation link.